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22 Replies Last post: Jul 21, 2007 4:03 PM by mphenterprises 1 2 Previous Next

doehill

8 posts since
Jul 17, 2007

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Jul 17, 2007 5:37 PM

Computer Running Slow

I recently read the PCWorld article about PCTools Spyware Docter to get rid of malware. Downloaded and ran it with some improvement, but then the machine gets slow again. The machine is a Dell Dimension 4550 Pentium 4; 60 GB Hard Drive; extra memory was installed sometime ago. I use Windows XP (with upgrades). Everything seemed to be O.K. until recently. Gradually more time is required to access email, internet, other applications, etc. I ran lavasoft's Ad-aware; also a registry cleaning software. In all this checking I noticed that if I tried to access the E Drive there was always a problem; many times the machine would just freeze there and have to be restarted. I think there is no problem with the D Drive (dvd drive).... The problem must be with the E Drive but how do I fix it? Thanks for any help or suggestions!!

This is my first post in this forum. I regularly read the PCWorld magazine and use many suggestions I find there.

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mphenterprises

9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

1. Jul 17, 2007 5:51 PM

in response to: doehill

Hi Doehill. Okay, so that everyone can be on the same page. Please tell us the configuration of your drives.

How many drives (partitions) do you have?

What letters are your CD or DVD Drive(s)?

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

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spike

1,233 posts since
Aug 21, 2006

2. Jul 17, 2007 5:58 PM

in response to: doehill

There seems to be a lot of this going on lately, have you updated and run a virus scan,....lately?

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spike

1,233 posts since
Aug 21, 2006

3. Jul 17, 2007 6:09 PM

in response to: doehill

read this article and let us know if this sounds like your problem

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40985

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doehill

8 posts since
Jul 17, 2007

4. Jul 18, 2007 1:44 PM

in response to: doehill

Still need some help

I have an A drive (for floppy diskettes). I don't use it much but it seemed O.K. the last time I used it. The C Drive is the "hard drive". The D drive is DVDs. E drive is for CDs.

I read the article referred to above and sounds like it could have something to do with my problem. I use McAfee Anti-virus, firewall protection, etc. As mentioned earlier I ran Spyware Doctor and Registry Booster. Registry Booster found and fixed more problems than Spyware Doctor. Last time Spyware Doctor seemed to hang up at this path(file): Documents and Settings\Martha\Send To\ Direct CD Drive (E).Ink ..... Don't know how the file got there or what it is. Explorer lists a folder (yellow) in that path but does not show what is in the file.

What do I do now?

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mphenterprises

9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

5. Jul 18, 2007 2:16 PM

in response to: doehill

Re: Still need some help

doehill wrote:E drive is for CDs.

Doehill, CD and DVD drives cannot get viruses. The CDs and DVDs that you put into the drive get the virus. There is nothing wrong with your D & E drives. The problem you have is in your hard drive "C"

If you have a "Document and Settings" folder under an E drive, that drive is not for CDs. That may be another partition off of your main hard drive.

What security protection do you have?

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Reply

doehill

8 posts since
Jul 17, 2007

6. Jul 19, 2007 6:16 AM

in response to: doehill

Still need help

Sorry about the confusion about the E Drive. I know the E Drive is the drive for CDs, but yesterday the Spyware Doctor scan stopped at a file with a reference to the E Drive. I just ran another Spyware Doctor scan. This time the scan went further, but stopped at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Clipart\Clipart on Word CD.Ink -- notice the ink extension. Yesterday's scan stopped earlier in the process and put the ink extension on a file with reference to the E Drive.

My security system is McAfee Security -- anti-virus, firewall protection, scans mail, automatically updates itself, etc. I looked at the site referred to in an earlier message and I think now that is probably about the time this trouble started. If I restore the system to a date earlier than July 13, do you think that will fix it? But then what happens if I accept another Explorer update?

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mphenterprises

9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

7. Jul 19, 2007 7:00 AM

in response to: doehill

If you can do me a favor and take a screen shot for me. Here is what I would like to see:

In Windows Explorer, the My Computer section

To save the screenshot, open Microsoft Paint and click Paste inside the application main window. This will drop the screen shot into Paint. Then save it to your Desktop. Do this for each of the images.

To upload the screenshot, go to Photobucket. Walk through the registration and then upload the screenshot. You can then post the link in here. I want to make sure we are all on the same page in relation to your drives (partitions).

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

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spike

1,233 posts since
Aug 21, 2006

8. Jul 19, 2007 6:56 AM

in response to: doehill

After that,... DO THIS, you will need to have your windows XP disc ready
click on START > RUN, in the box , type sfc /scannow ( there is a space between the sfc.....and the...../scannow ) let this process run, it will take some time and +you will be prompted to insert your Windows XP , CD +. This is called Windows file protection and will, in most cases, replace any corrupted system files it finds.

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doehill

8 posts since
Jul 17, 2007

9. Jul 19, 2007 1:40 PM

in response to: doehill

Where do I find Microsoft Paint? ...... I have gotten a little improvement by running the disk cleanup utility. Also emptied spam and trash folders in yahoo mail.

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mphenterprises

9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

10. Jul 19, 2007 1:47 PM

in response to: doehill

Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Paint

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

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AnAngelsChaos

25 posts since
Jul 16, 2007

11. Jul 19, 2007 5:30 PM

in response to: doehill

Try This Thread. It really helps speed things up.

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doehill

8 posts since
Jul 17, 2007

12. Jul 20, 2007 6:34 AM

in response to: doehill

My machine does not have Paint, but I have a screenshot software that lets me get a copy of the screen. I can print it, save it, and other things like send it, or copy to clipboard, etc.

Machine is working but still very slow. I used the D drive last night. E drive does nothing. The E drive is listed in Explorer but does not let me use it.

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spike

1,233 posts since
Aug 21, 2006

13. Jul 20, 2007 7:15 AM

in response to: doehill

.:?:

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mphenterprises

9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

14. Jul 20, 2007 6:43 AM

in response to: doehill

:? Okay, I am very confused with your situation. EVERY version of Windows has Microsoft Paint. It is a standard application; like Solitaire.

Anyway, take the screen shot, save it to your desktop, then follow the step laid out previously. I have a strong feeling that once you do this, everything will come to light.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

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